Pages

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Gained some weight

Yup. It took two and a half months, but I've finally collected and compiled the gear I need for the Susitna race. Today I loaded most of it on my bike (a bit haphazard, but daylight was a-fadin') and went out for a short ride. Including water and other gear I plan to hoist in my Camelbak H.A.W.G., the total addition is about 20-25 pounds. And you know what? I got better traction today.

I also whipped down the hills. And climbs? Well, I'm a slow climber anyway. I probably should have added the weight to my workouts before now, but I don't anticipate the gear making or breaking me. At this point, any semblance of good trail and weather conditions would have me so stoked I could probably set out on a loaded touring bike and be fine. Well, maybe not fine. But if I could just finish the race with a smile on my face, I'll chalk it up as "probably the best one I've ever done." (I know - I have to stop with the Napoleanisms.)

Oh yeah. I nearly forgot that today is the V-day-that-must-not-be-named. Not that I'm one of those people that marches for Single Awareness Day. In fact, Feb. 14 is tied to several of my more memorable anniversaries. Today I realized (because this is the kind of stuff I think about when I'm riding my bike) that it's been 10 years since my first kiss (not exactly the first, but the first one that meant anything to me, so I quickly disregarded the rest.) It was a classic moment of teenage angst: Valentine's date ... sitting shotgun in some beat-up old Buick ... idling loudly ... eyes locked on the windshield ... streams of melted snowflakes slithering down the glass ... sinking into the congested silence ... paralyzed and unable to look this boy in the eyes because I knew, just knew, it was coming.

But what really stands out about the memory is the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing softly through crackling speakers. I ran out to Tom Tom's Music the next day to purchase the "Soul to Squeeze" single for prosterity. And now, here I am, 10 years into a strange future, singing to myself as I pedal across the snow.

"Where I go I just don't knowI got to, got to, gotta take it slowWhen I find my peace of mindI'm gonna give you some of my good time."

Just a suggestion, keep the weight on your shoulders to a minimum. I learned the hard way in AR Racing. It does help to tighten & loosen the straps to raise & lower the weight to ease the pain in your shoulders as well. Good Luck. After reading your blog I guess I can no longer complain about cold feet again.

Jill, remember to REST the day before the race and get some recuperation time! It'll make you stronger! Just enough activity to stay loose. Charge up on FOOD as well, get some surplus energy reserve available to you! You'll be burning 11,000 calories + a day out there, with about 1 calorie per 5 just for thermoregulation! Watch the feet and hands, and KICK THEIR ASSES! I'm pulling for you!

Been following your progress for a few months now and although I'm too poor to have actually sent you any dough - I - like alot of us - have been out here in 'silent support' - so now that the race is pending I thought I'd chime in.

As a fellow cyclist and someone with a love for sometimes inhospitable climes (5 years living in Atlantic Canada - now in Washington DC and I actually miss all the snow) I've enjoyed reading about your progress and checking out some of the great photos you post. Makes me want to move North again.

It sounds like you've done your homework and I'm sure you'll do great in the race. if there's one thing I've come to understand from reading about these long distance cold weather races - it's that it's not so much a race against other racers, but a competiton to challenge yourself. Win or loose, finish or not - the preparation and reflection that your training has inspired and the events that unfold on race day will only produce a stronger, better person on the other side - We've all seen that already in your entries.

I don't know if you read it or not, but on the surlyblog - one of those cats just finished the Arrowhead135 and had a great experience - I'm sure you will too.

Best of luck. Be careful and have fun. Looking forward to reading about your ride after you're back at home with the Pepsi and Goldfish.

Great song. Long time since I last heard that one, but it's a classic.Hey, kick butt in the Susitna this year so that ten years down the line you don't have to talk your nephew into buying a time machine for you to go back and win state or something.Besides, you've got us all believing in you. Personally, there's no doubt in my mind ... I could totally see you riding your bike toward a cheap video camera, though, I must say. "I could ride right over those mountains ..."

Contributors

Half Past Done

Latest news

Best of "Jill Outside"

Read the best essays and adventure reports from the first six years of this blog in one convenient eBook, available in all electronic formats. Your purchase helps support future "Jill Outside" adventures.